Mamba (roller coaster)

Mamba is a steel roller coaster located at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri. Designed by Steve Okamoto and manufactured by D.H. Morgan Manufacturing, Mamba opened to the public on April 18, 1998. It is classified as a hypercoaster, which is any coaster that exceeds 200 ft in height or drop length, and cost over $10 million to construct. As of 2026, Mamba is tied with Steel Force at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania as the ninth longest steel coaster in the world.[1] It is also currently the tallest, fastest, and longest continuous circuit coaster in the state of Missouri; it is surpassed in height only by Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast at Six Flags St. Louis, which is a Shuttle roller coaster.

History

On September 11, 1997, Worlds of Fun announced that Mamba would be added to the park.[2] The ride would be a hypercoaster by D.H. Morgan Manufacturing. It would be the tallest ride in the park at 205 ft. The coaster would be located in the Africa section of the park.[2] Mamba officially opened on April 18, 1998.

Mamba's track was repainted in late 2024, changing its color from red to green.[3][4]

In October 2025, the Missouri Division of Fire Safety conducted a spot inspection of the Mamba following public complaints and media reports regarding seat belt malfunctions. The investigation focused on an October 11 incident where passengers physically restrained another passenger after her seat belt unlatched and a similar report on October 12. Inspectors identified 18 worn buckles that were "not functioning properly", which the park replaced. The ride reopened on October 30 after the park confirmed the repairs, while emphasizing that the primary lap bar restraints had remained fully functional and the seat belts serve as a redundant safety system.[5]

Ride elements

  • 205 foot 1st hill
  • 184 foot 2nd hill
  • 580° helix
  • 5 consecutive camelback hills

Trains

3 trains with 6 cars per train. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows, for a total of 36 riders per train.[6]

Rankings

References

  1. Record Holders - Length RCDB.com, retrieved April 6, 2018^
  2. Mamba Celebrates 20 Years Of Thrills Worlds of Fun, retrieved August 20, 2020^
  3. Mamba is shedding its skin... 🐍 Facebook, Worlds of Fun, October 16, 2024, retrieved December 14, 2024^
  4. Mamba will be ready for a brat summer in 2025 💚 Facebook, Worlds of Fun, November 7, 2024, retrieved December 14, 2024^
  5. Krista Tatschl. Worlds of Fun visitors say they had to hold down young girls after alleged seat belt malfunction KMBC, October 31, 2025, retrieved February 2, 2026^
  6. retrieved September 13, 2019^